Now Commenting On:

Dye captures AL Player of the Week

Power surge earns Dye AL Player of the Week

Email

Print

By Ryan Crawford
/
MLB.com |

With seven games in seven days against their biggest division foes, the White Sox needed a big performance from someone.

They got several from Jermaine Dye, who was named the Bank of America American League Player of the Week for Aug. 21-27 on Monday. Dye went 7-for-16 with four home runs in a four-game series against Detroit and 4-for-12 with a homer in a three-game series against Minnesota.

Those are the kinds of performances that White Sox players have come to expect from Dye. Those are also the kinds of performances that have led to talk of other awards for the 32-year-old outfielder.

"[Jermaine] is the MVP of the league, if you ask me," White Sox right-hander Jon Garland said after Dye hit two home runs on Thursday. "He's done it day-in and day-out. It's fun to watch him sitting on the bench."

Dye's performance was even more clutch after the team lost All-Star Jim Thome to a hamstring injury on Wednesday.

Dye was moved up to third in the batting order and drove in six runs with Thome on the bench.

"You just have to stick with your game plan and not worry about where you are hitting and go up and take what the pitcher is giving you," Dye said about batting third.

Dye's game plan has been impressive all year, and the All-Star entered Monday hitting .326 with 38 homers and 102 RBIs. This is Dye's second AL Player of the Week award, with the last coming on July 10.

Also up for the award was Dye's teammate, Joe Crede. The White Sox third baseman hit .345 with three home runs and a double last week.

Ryan Crawford is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.